European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - July 1, 1988, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Friday july 1,1988 the stars and stripes Page 21 sports Martina Navratilova bears Down on a forehand return to fellow american Chris Evert in route to a 6-1,4-6,7-5 semifinal win thursday on Centre court at Wimbledon. Navratilova topples Evert by Andrew Warshaw Wimbledon England a Martina Navratilova and Steffi Graf moved Toan historic showdown with victories in the women s semifinals at Wimbledon thurs , aiming for a tournament record ninth singles title and her seven thin a Row edged longtime rival Chris Evert 6-1, 4-6, 7-5 in a match that ended in Boos and confusion on Centre court. Graf the 19-year-old top seed who i seeking a first Wimbledon championship to keep alive her Hopes of a grand slam sweep beat third seeded Pam Shriver 6-1, 6-2. It will be the sixth consecutive championship match appearance in a grand slam tournament for Graf Winner of the australian and French opens this year. She beat Navratilova in the French opencast year and lost to her at Wimbledon and the . Open. Navratilova never has lost a title match appearance on Centre court and if she maintains that perfect record sat urday she will have won More singles championships than anyone else in Wimbledon history. Graf maintained her perfect record Inthis year s grand slam appearances with a 59-minute demolition of Shriver whom she beat at the same stage of the tournament last  won one More game this time but it was never a  the first set forehand and a Back hand Volley gave Graf a 3-1 Lead and she broke for the final time for 5-2. Shriver netted a forehand Volley on the final Point but Graf had started that sequence with a blistering forehand service return. Wimbledon Graf needed two match Points to wrap it up. She moved to 40-30 on an Ace Anda service Winner slammed a forehand into the net for Deuce got her second match Point on a netted backhand and finished the Job appropriately with a forehand Winner. Navratilova reached the threshold of another place in the record books in Strong performance but with Boos ring ing in her ears at the end of the match. She held match Point her fourth up 6-5 in the third set. Evert sent a fore hand Cross court that clipped the net Corsand appeared to land in the doubles Alley just outside the line. The line judge quickly signalled out and Navratilova jumped f9r Joy. But Umpire Richard Lumb of Britain misunderstood the Call and failed to give the final score. Evert was sure the Ball was in and pumped her fists ready for the next Point at what she though let was Deuce after saving the third match Point of that game. Navratilova pleaded he called the Ball out and Lumb finally agreed. The Ball was called out he , set and match miss  Evert could t believe it and neither could the crowd. They booed As Ever slowly walked off court and finally Shook hands with Navratilova the win Ner for the 41st time in 78 career meet Ings with the 33-year-old  men s semifinals Are set for Fri Day after defending Champion Pat Cash of Australia was eliminated 6-4, 6-3, 6-4 by two time Champ Boris Becker in the quarterfinals. The match was billed As the big show Down the Battle of the grass court  the product never matched the build up. Becker was just too Good in every department. Navratilova almost did t get to Herlth consecutive semifinal at the All England  had to rally from 4-2 deficits in the second and third sets of a delayed fourth round match wednesday to beat the unseeded Ros Fairbank. I was playing on instinct and guts Navratilova said after the 4-6, 6-4, 7-5victory that put in the last four for the Lith straight year. In Friday s men s semifinals Becker a 20-year-old West German will play Ivan Lendl in a repeat of the 1986 final. Lendl the world s top ranked player but still searching for a first Wimbledon title for once had a straightforward Victory. After a couple of gruelling five setters the 28-year-old czechoslovak downed american Tim Mayotte 7-6, 7-6,6-3. The other semifinal will be betwee Stefan Edberg of Sweden and Miles Ian Mecir. Edberg ousted unseeded Patric Kuhnen of West Germany 6-3, 4-6, 6-1, 7-6, while Mecir dashed the grand slam Hopes of another swede Mats Wilander 6-3,6-1,6-3. Cash had been seriously tested Only once on his Way to the quarterfinals de spite Corning into Wimbledon without a single tournament title this year. He knew Becker would be by far his toughest hurdle to Date but could not have imagined just How  being out served for two sets Cash got Back into the match when he broke Becker for a 4-2 Lead in the third. But he could t hold on and immediately dropped his own serve. Then came the crunch. With his title slipping away on the muggy afternoon Cash saved three break Points in the ninth game As his fan cheered. On the fourth he sent a fore hand deep into the backcourt and positioned himself perfectly at the net to Cut off the return. But the Ball had flicked the net on it Sway and gave Becker just enough time to Pound a backhand Down the line past the lunging Cash. The australian As if realizing the end was close stood at the sidelines threw his arms up in despair and took one last glance up at the  completed the break served out the match and Cash s reign was  had it the Way i wanted in the first set Cash said. But i did t have enough to put it together. I Haven t been Happy with my form the whole Tournai  was More than Content with  you play the defending Champion you obviously have to play at your Betto beat him Becker said. I did that  i have Only played five matches. You have to win seven. It gives me Confidence. But it does not give me the Tro Phy , the australian and French Champion had reached the quarterfinals without dropping a set on his least favor Ite surface